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T. TAYLOR.

PROCESS OF TREATING COTTON SEED.

No. 297,193. Y Patented Apr. 22, 1884.

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(No Model.)

T. TAYLOR.

PROCESS 0F TREATING COTTON SEED'.

Patented A131222, 1884.

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THOMAS TAYLOR, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO JAMES E. FITCH, OF SAME PLACE.

PROCESS OF TREATING COTTON-SEED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent: No. 297,193, dated April 22, 1884.

' Application filed November 26, ists. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:-

` Be it known that I, THoMAs TAYLOR, of the city of Washington, District of Columbia, have invented a certain new and Improved Process of Treating Cotton-Seed; and I do hereby deelare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specication, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.

The object of my present invention is to effect in a novel and economical manner the removal from the cotton-seed ofthe ber which still adheres after the ginning operation Without destroying said ber and without injury to the hull of the seed or to the kernel within the hull.

To this end the invention consists `in an improved mode of treating the seed, substantially as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

I have found upon experiment that if the cotton-seed in the condition which it is in when it comes from the gins is iinmersedin sulphuric acid of commerce the ber on the seeds will be dissolved and quickly converted into charcoal. I have also found that a solution of one part ofthe sulphuric acid of commerce at 60o Baume and one part of water by measure, used at the ordinary temperature ofthe atmosphere, will destroy the ber and sometimes form it into a gelatinous :mass and render it entirely useless.

On the other hand, I Ihave found that if the solution contains too much water the hull of the seed will become softened, and the acid and water together willbe absorbed by the kernel and the latter rendered worthless. For instance, if cotton-seed is immersed in a solution of one measure of acid to ten of water for a period of three days it will become quite soft, so that it may be crushed between the ngers, while the cotton ber is in noway loosened from the roots; but if the seed be immersed in a solution of sulphuric acid of one part by measure and water from two to six parts by measure, the ber will be loosened from the root-cells, the cuticle of the seed partially disintegrated, the hull proper rendered impervious to water or acid, and the kernel` kept 5o perfectly dry, and this though the Seed 1emain immersed in the solution for several days. The action of the acid solution when of the proportions last above given is to decompose the substance of the cells in which the ber grows, to .abstract water from the albumen ofthe hull proper, so as to consolidate its surface and render it impervious to the solution. As it is desirable to hasten the process of loosening the ber, I preferably employ a solution in which one part of sulphuric acid, by measure, at about Baume is combined with from two to four parts of water.

In carrying outany invention I rst preferably immerse the seeds in anacid solution of a strength within the limits hereinabove given and at about the temperature of the atmosphere, care being taken that the seeds be completely immersed, as otherwise the ber will become injured. In from two to three days the ber will be loosened and can be rubbed from the seed by the ngers; but as a next step I preferably wash the seed with a weak .from the salt formed by the combination of the acid with the alkali, and then place the seed on a iloor or in a drying-room to dry under a moderate temperature. When dry, the seed is then subjected to the action of any suitable mechanical contrivance which will rub o' the loosened ber without injuring at all the hull proper. The removed ber may then be used in the, manufacture of paper or for other purposes, while the cleaned seeds may be either ground into meal or compressed for oil and oil-cake purposes, as desired.

In the process of treatment, the seeds after leaving the acid solution may be washed with water to save the acid, then with the alkaline solution, and then with water again, and then dried and nally divested of the ber.

It is not essential that the seed be dried before being acted upon by the contrivance for rubbing 0E the ber, as the latter operation may be performed as well while the seed and ber are wet. As a matter of fact, the ber when wet or damp is Vmore readily detached from the seed than when dry.-

The accompanying drawings illustrate one IOO .form of apparatus which may be employed in carrying out the treatment, Figure l representing the means employed. in treating the seed with the acid and other baths; and Figs. 2 and 3, a longitudinal sectional View and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of a machine for eifecting the removal of the loosened ber from the seed.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures denote the same parts.

A represents alead-lined vat for containing the acid solution; B, a similar vat for containing the alkaline bath; C, a similar vat for containing the water bath, and D a receptacle for waste products.

The passage of the seeds through the preliminary stages of treatment,involving the use of the above instrunientalities, has been hereinbeiore described.

In the fiber-removing machine represented in Figs. 2 and 3, E represents a hopper, into which the seed is fed after treatment with the acid solution; F, a wire-gauze cylinder sup ported upon and connected rigidly to a continuously-revolving inclined shaft, G; H, a half-cylinder or concave of wire-gauze so arranged with relation to the cylinder F as to leave a semi-annular space betweenA the two for the passage of the seed; I, a dischargespout, by means of which the cleaned seeds are conducted from the machine. The cylinder F and concave H are arranged within a casing, J, as shown. X Y Z are a series of compara ments in which the fiber passed through the concave is collected.

TWhen in operation, the preriously-treated seeds are fed into the hopper E, from which they pass onto the cylinder F, and thence between the said cylinder and the concave H, where they are rubbed and abraded between the gauze surfaces until all the iiber is removed, the cleaned seeds tailing off through the dischargespout I, while the ber passes through the meshes of the concave and into the several compartments X Y Z, the cleanest grade of iiber being deposited in compart ment X, and grades less clean in the succeeding compartments.

Any well-known means may be employed for inducing a suction through t-he machine; or, in lieu of a suction, a blast may be employed. A suction -fan is shown in dotted lines.

While the particular apparatus which I have hereinshown and described is competent to carry out my improved process of treating cotton-seed, I do not desire to be understood as conining myself to the use of such apparatus alone, as it is susceptible ot' many modifications, and any equivalent of it will answer as well.

The cotton fiber removed from the seeds and saved by my improved process can be utilized to advantage in the manufacture of paper and for other purposes, while the cleaned seeds are less liable to deterioration from heat and dampness than the seeds on which the fiber still remains, and germinate, in about thirtyone hours after being planted, at a tempera'- ture of S50 Fahrenheit.

In an application tiled by me in the United States Patent Oflice on the 2d day of June, 1883, and of which this is a division, I have claimed, broadly, the treatment of cotton-seed by subjecting it to the action of a solution of sulphuric acid of commerce and water, in the proportions of about one part, by measure, of acid and about two to six parts, by measure, ot' water. I therefore lay no claim to such treatment, broadly, herein, but

Vhat I do claim herein isl. A process of treating cotton-seed. consisting in subjecting the seed to the action ot' a solution ot' sulphuric acid of commerce and water, in .the proportions of about one part, by measure, ot' the acid and from two parts to six parts, by measure, of water, and then to a mechanical rubbing action to remove the ber lfrom the seed, substantial ly as described.

2. A process of treating cotton-seed, consist-ing in subjecting the seed to the action of asolution ofsulphuricacid 'and water, in about the proportions named, then to an alkaline bath, then to a bath of water, and finally to a mechanical rubbing or abrading action to remove the ber, substantially as described.

THOMAS TAYLOR.

Vitnesses:

VILLIAM FITCH, EDGAR T. Glinnis. 

